Giving an imam salary and food from haram and mixed income

Question

Question: Bakr leads the prayer as imam in a mosque and has a fixed salary. The salary that the trustees (mutawallis) of the mosque give Bakr is paid from collected donations and the like, and in these donations money is also taken from those who consume riba (interest) and those who take bribes. What is the ruling on taking such donations and then giving them as the imam’s salary? For in leading the prayer it is necessary to pay special attention to God-consciousness (taqwa)

Answer

A person who specifically gives an imam or teacher income from bribery or riba — whether in the form of money or in the form of food — it is not permissible to take it. If someone’s income is of both kinds, halal and haram, but the halal income is greater and the haram less, and he gives the imam or teacher food or cash from such mixed income, then taking it is right.

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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